The McGee! Project

Prepared forCanadian Association of Irish Studies

Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia21, May, 2010

Tara Players Theatre of Ottawa

byPadraig Finlay

Outline

• McGee’s Chronology• McGee’s Obituary, Threats, Relationships• Project Challenges, Elements, Team• Project Schedule • References, Websites• Discussion

Chronology (1)

• 1825, April 13, Born Ireland (Carlingford Lough, County Louth)

• 1842, April 7, Sailed from Ireland (Wexford) to Canada (Quebec City), on to United States (Rhode Island, Boston)

• 1845, Returned to Ireland, England (London)• 1848, Escaped to United States after “Young

Irelanders” uprising (Boston, Buffalo, etc)

Chronology (2)

• 1857, Moved to Canada (Montreal). The New Era Journal. Elected Member of Parliament

• 1862, Appointed President of the Council• 1864, Appointed Minister Agriculture,

Immigration and Statistics• 1864, Toured Maritimes, Member of

Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences• 1866, Member of London Conference

Chronology (3)

• 1867, July 1, British North America Act proclaimed - Dominion of Canada

• Not appointed to John A MacDonald’s Cabinet.

• 1868, April 7, Assassinated, Spark’s Street, Ottawa

• 1868, April 13, Buried, Cotes des Neiges Cemetery, Montreal

Obituary

• Journalist and Editor• Writer and Poet• Lecturer and Orator• Political Figure• Roman Catholic• Family Man• Human Being

Threats

• British Government• American Nativists• Catholic Church• Orange Lodge• Fenians

Relationships

• Mother - died when eight years old• Aunt Bella - Providence, Rhode Island• Mrs. Mary Anne Sadlier - publisher• Mary Teresa (Caffrey) - wife• Children - Peggy and F(r)asa, three died• John A Macdonald - ally? and Prime Minister• George Brown - Conservative, ally?• Patrick James Whelan - Assassin?

McGee! Project Challenges (1)

• How to convey Thomas D’Arcy McGee ?• Historical documentation vs probabilities• Creative drama, conflicts vs exposition of facts • Different audiences - students (elementary,

high school, university, mature), general public (many different demographics)

• Media options - print, lectures, theatre, audio, video, big screenings, Internet, YouTube, PDAs

McGee! Project Challenges (2)

• Combination of techniques - narrative, print, posters, audio, visual, theatre, film, video -Web, “Be Googlable” to be…or not to be

• Attention span of audiences (1 to50 minutes)• Time, Money• Objectives (many!)

– Be informative, instructive, stimulating, humourous, entertaining

McGee! Project Elements

• Videos - Demonstration, Final• Website - www.mcgeeproject.com• Music – Compact Disc (CD) and Concerts by

Frank Cassidy and James Stephens, and friends• Exhibitions - Digital, Poster Displays• Documents - Student Guides, Teacher Plans, etc.• Fund Raising

McGee! Core Team

• Padraig Finlay - Producer, Writer, Actor• Robert and Brenda Rooney - Video Production• Miles Finlayson – Cinematographer• Janet Irwin - Dramaturge, Acting Coach• David Wilson - Historical Advisor• Frank Edwards - Educational Consultant• Selena Karkash - Website Manager• Mary Hogan-Finlay – Life Mate, Coach

McGee! Project Schedule

• Phase 1 - Completed– One man theatre show at – Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann Convention– Music CD “In Honour of Life & Times of TDMcG”

• Phase 2 - Work in Progress– Demonstration Video (Completed)– Website (Launched)– Workshops, Focus Groups, Feedback (Ongoing)

• Phase 3 - Content and Timing? - It depends!

References

• Wilson, David A., “Thomas D’Arcy McGee, Volume 1, Passion, Reason and Politics, 1825-1857”: McGill-Queen’s University Press

• Slattery, T.P., “The Assassination of D’Arcy McGee”, Toronto: Doubleday 1968

• Slattery, T.P., “They Got to Find Mee Guilty Yet”. Toronto: Doubleday 1972

Websites

• www.mcgeeproject.com• http://taraplayers.ncf.ca• http://www.rooneyproductions.com/

main.htm• www.endlessroadproductions.com• www.mcgeemusic.ca• http://www.hedgehogproductions.com/

Discussion

• Viewing of Demonsration Video• Comments, Questions, Answers• Suggestions• Contact

– Padraig Finlay– pgfinlay@gmail.com– 613 291 5810